Citizens Transit Group Has Another Vacancy To Fill

By Samantha Joseph
The group overseeing spending of Miami-Dade County’s $17 billion transportation expansion fund is looking to fill another position.

The Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust again has three of 15 seats vacant following the Sept. 30th resignation of Mike Abrams, its District Four representative.

Since its first meeting about 17 months ago, the group only once has had a full roster – and that lasted only about three weeks before John Cosgrove resigned as chairman in May.

"It was an honor to be chosen to be a part of the CITT," Mr. Abrams said. "We had a lot of challenging issues in our infancy, but we have committed board members, a great executive director and the county commission’s support."

He had to give up the position when he moved out of the district, which spans the northeastern part of the county from the county line to Miami Beach and includes Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach and Biscayne Park.

He moved to District Five – one of the 12 districts already represented on the board.

Mr. Abrams, one of the group’s founding members, said he was confident about its future.

He was interim chairman after the panel’s creation in May 2003 and has been in public service for over decade, serving as state representative from 1982 to 1994.

His departure added to vacancies in Districts 8 and 13.

The group found its search for a financial consultant derailed when a court ruling in August forced the county to change its solicitation process to not favor minority businesses for public contracts.

Meanwhile, the panel reappointed its chairman, Marc Buoniconti, and vice chairman, Luis Morse, to new terms. Both gained the positions after Mr. Cosgrove resigned. Their terms will end in September 2005.

The group is accepting applications from volunteers who would like to serve on the trust. Details: 305-375-3481.